Worcester Racecourse is among worst venues for horse safety, according to Animal Aid

Animal Aid said the city's racecourse has a disproportionally high number of deaths and called on bosses to act.

Dene Stansall, horseracing consultant for Animal Aid, claims 48 horses have died from injuries sustained at Worcester Racecourse since 2007.

The group wants fixed brush hurdles to be banned from the site, claiming the obstacles are 'highly dangerous'.

But Worcester Racecourse said it meets high standards of care and argued horse fatality rates have dropped in the last 20 years.

Mr Stansall, aged 59, said: "It's one of the worst racecourses in the country for horse safety. Worcester is [proportionally] in the top five of 60 racecourses.

"Worcester races on average 16 days a year. One in every four days of racing there, a horse will die. Other courses have had more racing.

"Worcester has long periods of no racing. They have also had lots of abandoned meetings.

"They could put a traditional hurdle in and that would save a lot of lives.

"I think something should be done to help these animals. It's very distressing to see the horses suffer badly. It need not happen."

Mr Stansall claims the portable fixed brush hurdles at Worcester Racecourse are more dangerous than traditional hurdles, which flatten when horses collide with them.

He believes the actual number of fatalities at the racecourse may be even higher than 48 but said he only records deaths after receiving official confirmation.

Mr Stansall monitors official records, watches races to review injuries and sometimes checks with a racecourse - or trainer - to find out if a horse has died.

He said deaths will sometimes not be recorded by Worcester Racecourse or the British Horseracing Authority because the horse is put down at a later stage.

Animal rights protesters held a demonstration outside the racecourse gates last week.

The Worcestershire Vegans and Veggies activists were protesting about the two deaths at the racecourse this year.

A spokesman for Worcester Racecourse said: "Animal welfare is a priority at Worcester Racecourse, where we make sure the high standards of equine care set by the British Horseracing Authority are met, which are well in excess of prescribed legislation.

"British racing is among the world’s best regulated animal activities with the sport employing over 6,000 people to provide care and attention for the 14,000 horses in training, providing them with a level of care and a quality of life that is virtually unsurpassed by any other domesticated animal.

"Within the last 20 years, the equine fatality rate in British racing has fallen by one third, from 0.3 per cent to 0.2 per cent of runners."

Animal Aid recorded that the following number of horses died from injuries at Worcester Racecourse: 2 (2017), 3 (2016), 3 (2015), 8 (2014), 3 (2013), 4 (2012), 9 (2011), 7 (2010), 0 (2009), 6 (2008), 3 (2007).